Send in the clowns - verse 1 Flashcards
isn’t it rich?
3 note anacrusis shows how Desiree is eager to be with Fredrick.
Dissonant V79 – 1 perfect cadence shows how she is trying to hide her sadness, but it still shows. Her sadness is shown through the dissonance.
The harp plays hopeful rising arpeggios.
P4 rise on ‘isn’t it’ also shows hope of being a pair, and the yearning she feels for Fredrick.
Melody is low pitched and the same as the intro, however the clarinet played very smooth and legato phrases in the intro and here Desiree has fragmented phrases and rests to show her sadness and emotions
Are we a pair?
V79 chord creates dissonance showing her uncertainty of the situation.
Strings double the vocal line representing hope of them being together.
It is ironic as she is asking a question and there is a perfect cadence, showing she is still trying to be hopeful while hiding her sadness.
Me here at last on the ground, you in mid air
Fredrick is joyous and can live his life normally without Desiree, and Desiree is depressed.
F minor 7 chord on ‘me here at last on the ground’. Shows desires sadness.
Dissonant V 791113 chord on ‘air’ also shows her sadness.
Time signature changes to 9:8 to create tension and uncertainty and show her fragmented and emotions and sadness as it frequently changes.
Octave fall between ‘in mid’ show how far apart they have become. ‘Here at’ falls a minor 3rd. Clarinets double the melody in 3rds to show hope of becoming a pair. Frequent changes between major and minor 3rds show her constantly changing emotions.
Hopeful arpeggios continue in accompaniment.
Send in the clowns
Means that Desiree wants cheering up as clowns can make her laugh.
Minor 3rd rise and perfect 5th fall represent her sadness.
Eb minor chord shows her sadnesses it is a minor chord but also her love for Fredrick as Eb is the key of love.
Imperfect cadence on ‘Clowns’ to end the phrase, showing how Desiree is unsure of the situation and does not know what to do.
Isn’t it bliss?
Ironic meaning as it hints at them being together.
Plagal cadence on ‘bliss’. The change of cadence creates a sense of hope.
Flute and clarinet antiphonally answer the vocal line portraying her mood which is done using 2 against 3 cross rhythms that create tension within the line representing Desirees mixed emotions and feelings.
Sadness is portrayed using an appoggiatura which creates dissonance.
Don’t you approve?
V79 chord creates dissonance. There is still a sense of underlying hope as the harp plays rising arpeggios, but the dissonant chord shows the real meaning of resentfulness behind her words.
There is a perfect cadence on ‘approve’ which represents a more resentful approach and shows hope of Fredrick liking her.
There is another antiphonal answer from the flute and clarinet with the appoggiatura and 2 against 3 cross rhythms to show desires changing emotions and the tension in what she’s saying.
One who keeps tearing around, one who can’t move
Emphasises how Fredrick is having a good time without her as he is ‘tearing around’ whereas Desiree is depressed and doesn’t know how to move on as she’s the ‘one who can’t move’.
‘Tearing around’ is set on the highest pitch of the phrase to represent how joyous Fredrick is. There is a dissonant tonic 7 9 chord here as the dissonance represents her resent for Fredricks enjoyment and joyful nature.
Her sadness and depression are shown through ‘one who can’t move’ ending on the lowest pitch of the phrase.
The time signature changes to 9:8 on ‘tearing around’ which could show her changing emotions but could also represent how different his life is to hers where he is able to move on. And again, this is emphasised through the change back to 12/8 on ‘can’t move’ to show her life and current depressive state.
Strings double the vocals in 3rds to show she still wishes to be a pair.
Orchestra antiphonally answer with minor rising arpeggios. Could suggest she still has hope.
Where are the clowns?
There is an Indication that she’s upset and desperate. Suggests that she is the clown and has made a fool of herself.
E flat minor chord used to show her depression, and the melody rises by a minor 3rd then falls a perfect 5th to show her sadness.
‘Clowns’ lands on an imperfect cadence to suggest she is unsure and searching for support. This is supported by the perfect 5th showing she is yearning for help.
‘Clowns’ lands on a dissonant V79 chord. The dissonance represents her mood
Send in the clowns.
Lands on a perfect cadence. Minor 3rd rise to show her sadness, but it resolves upwards this time instead of a falling a perfect 5th seen in previous parts. This could show she is surer of herself and builds tension for the next section.
